Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-27
MRS. CLEVELAND.
She Attends Divine Service at the Hum.
Bile Country Edifice of 81. Albaus and
Causes Quite Ripple of Excitement
Among the ParishIoners.
OAK VIEW. ID. c., Sept. 26.

OAK VIEW. ID. c., Sept. 26.
Within short distance of Oak View, the
Presidents summer home, is the Episcopal
church of St. Albans. 1t is modest struct-
ure. built of wood, painted brown, aud stands
a little way back from the Tennallytown road
i'll grove.
Until this summer its history was unevent-
full. The rector preached each Sunday to a
small congregation, made up week after week
OF the some persons. There was little to
vary the monot0ny, and the climax of social
enjoyment was reached in an occasional gar
den party held under the trees.
There was quite a ripple of excitement in
the little church, however, when, one Sunday
morning, shortly after the President had be-
come domiciled at Oak View for the summer,
Mrs. Cleveland and her mother entered the
edlt1ce and took their seats among the con-
gregation Since that time she has never
failed in her attendance, if she was in the
district, a. consequently the church's con
gregation has become considerably larger.
Across the road from the church is the Wash
ington Inn, new hotel built by New York
capitalists, and its fashionable guests have
| frequently been Induced to attend divine ser
vice in the hope of seeing the distinguished
worshipper.
The country people round about also have
oCSi ihOlS ~ luSlI CHuECH uuiiSS
than was ever known before. But outside
of this limited circle the fact of Mrs. Cleve-
lands attendance was unknown, and yester-
day, for the first time, newspaper reporter
entered the sacred precincts.
The bell in the tower which surmounts the
shingled roof had just finished ringing yes
terday morning, when Mrs. Cleveland, ac-
companied by her mother and her cousin,
the latter little lad, brother of May Hud-
dleston, entered the churchyard gate and
passed up TO the entrance of the church. As
usual they had walked over from Oak View,
cutting across the big field in front of the
cottage in order to quickly reach the road
| Down the dusty highway Mrs. Cleveland
came, following the narrow pathway for Pc
destrians close to the fences. There were
not many people on the road and these few
did not recognize the Presidents wife in the
plainly attired lady who was thus quietly and
unostentatiously walking to church. She
wore gray checked silk dress with band
of drab velvet across the bottom of the skirt,
aud as the morning was rather chilly she had
on close fitting black jersey. She wore a
black straw turbsn instead Of bonnet, and
in button hole of her jersey was red morn
ing-g glory, which she had picked from a vine
as she came along.
Mrs Cleveland brought her own prayer
book which corresponded with her attire in
being plain and unadorned She found the
various portions of the service with ease, and
devoutly followed the pale faced rector
through the litany, uttering the responses IN
low clear voice. When the congregation
sung she sung too, without restraint. Some
htle girls in the seat in trent were greatly
interested in her little cousin, and she smiled
upon them so gracouslv and prettiy that
many society belle in the great world out
side might have envied them with good
cause.
The service over, she mingled for mo-
ment with the congregation. She had a word
to say with the gray haired warden who had
passed around the collection plate, and she
made laughing remark to group Of young
girls. 1t was some minutes before she could
leave the church, for she has made many
friends in the congre cation but finally she
reached the door, and then, with pleasant
good bye to the rector, went back once more
to Oak View.
This will be her last Sunday with us,
suppose" said the rector with a tone of re-
gret. Before next Sunday she will have
started on her trip With tie President, and
when she returns, late in October, she will
probably remain at the White House. While
she has not personally interested herself to
anv extent in church work, she has been q
very regular attendant at the services, and
has shown her interest in various ways. She
always walks over just as she did today. One
rainy morning she drove over with the Presi-
dent"
| ''Did he come in?"
"No, he said he was very busy that day,
and so he went on to the White House"